Holden Caulfield Phony

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In the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger we see life through the 16-year-old teenage boy Holden Caulfield’s eyes and we learn about what he wants to pursue in life as well as what troubles have made him the way he is. Holden Caulfield views his surroundings with negativity and contempt with the purpose to avoid the corruption of adulthood. He is stuck between the bridge of childhood and adulthood and he fears the responsibility he must take to fully cross the bridge. Holden isolates himself from all adults and places himself in a separate crowd, one that will avoid corruption and will save the innocence of the young. Holden believes all adults possess traits of that of a "phony” and when he encounters people they strike him as …show more content…

Holden decides to visit his history teacher, old Mr.Spencer where he has quite an unpleasant experience. Mr. Spencer brings up an old blanket quite often he is very proud of that item and thinks he obtained it for a good price, Holden finds this action very annoying in addition Mr.Spencer calls Holden “boy” very often and it bothers Holden and at one point he feels that Mr.Spencer speaks to him in a condescending tone. The irony behind this is that Holden replicates the scenario himself, he bought a red hunting hat which gives him a thrill to talk about it and how he got it for a good price. Holden attends Pencey and there he has a “friend”named Ackley who Holden calls “kid” in the same manner old Mr.Spencer called him “boy” which is hypocritical. Holden is blind of his actions and continues to ignore the fact he must grow up and …show more content…

Two examples of this would be him trying to spend time with Sally since he is not mature enough or too afraid to contact Jane. He has an emotional hole that only Jane can fill up, but he tries to cover it with Sally. Another example would be when he’s at the hotel and gives a girl a call who he could have the possible chance of sexual intercourse as well as he buys the hooker in the hotel. Holden hates how people act fake towards each other or how they use each other but he does this to Sally without the need

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